Nursing Licensure Requirements in Montana

Registered Nurses (RNs) are trained and licensed healthcare providers who take care of patients in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other similar environments. Their day-to-day responsibilities include assisting doctors, bandaging injuries, injecting or giving medicines, noting vital signs, advising patients about their condition, and so on.

Nurses in the state of Montana must possess a bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN). In addition to that, they must clear the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Once the exam has been cleared, they must apply for a license at the Montana Board of Nursing to become registered. Further details on this career are explained below.

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

According to the data reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2,982,280 Registered Nurses (RNs) employed in the US in 2019, and 10,310 of those were working in Montana. The number of Registered Nurses is projected to grow by 12% in the US between 2018 and 2028.

Are you good at helping sick people? Do you want to become a Nurse in Montana? If the answer to these questions is yes, then this career guide is just for you!

1. 1. Complete the Required Education

To work as a registered nurse in the state of Montana, all candidates must possess the required minimum education that is a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. There are 2 ways this degree can be earned. The first option is to complete a 2-year associate’s degree in Nursing (ADN). This degree makes you eligible to enroll in a 2-year accelerated ADN-to-BSN degree. On the other hand, the direct route to becoming a nurse is a 4-year bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN). Several accredited institutions in Montana offer a BSN degree, such as Montana State University, Carroll College, and so on.

2. 2. Take and Pass the NCLEX-RN to Obtain a License

The Montana Board of Nursing acts as the regulatory authority for nurses in this state and issues licenses to nurses in the state. To obtain the status of Registered Nurse, all candidates must take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam after which, they can apply for a license to become Registered Nurses.

A typical bachelor’s degree in Nursing can take about 4 years to complete. After that, all candidates must take and clear the NCLEX-RN exam. Once the exam is cleared, nurses apply for a license and become a Registered Nurse. Taking the exam to get the license may take about a year. So, overall, it may take about 5 years or more to become a Registered Nurse in the state of Montana.

If your aim is to get employed as a Registered Nurse in the state of Montana, you must:

According to the data reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2019, all Registered Nurses employed in the state of Montana earned an annual mean salary of $69,340. While California was named as the highest paying state for this profession with an annual mean salary of $113,240.

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